The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-04
The Kiss In History.


Chicago Tribune.
There was an old belief that unless
\ maiden was kissed under the mistle.
zoe at Christmas, she would not be
married during the ensuing year.
When Fox was contesting the hard
won seat at Westminster, the beauti-
'ul Duchess OF Devonshire offered to
Kiss all who voted for thegreat states
man.
In the ceremonial OF betrothal q
kiss has played an important part in
several nations. A nuptial kiss in
church, ut the conclusion OF the mar
tiage service, is solemnly enjoined by
the York Missal and the Sarum
Manual.
The beautiful Lady Gordon, when
the ranks OF the Scottish regiments
had been sadly thinned by cruel
Badajos and Salamanca, turned re-
cruiting Sergeant, and. TO tempt the
gallant lads, placed the recruiting
shilling in her lips, whence each who
would might take it with his own
In Finland, according to Bayard
Taylor, the women resent as an in
suit salute upon the lips. A Finish
matron, hearing OF our English GUS
tom OF kissing, declared that did her
husband attempt such a liberty she
would treat him with such % box on
the ears that he should not readily
forget.
In Wesley's journal, dated June 16,
1853, is given the following descrip-
ton OF q duel between two officers
at Limerick: "Mr. b. proposed at fir
ing at twelve yards, but Mr.. j. said,
No, six is enough So they kissed
one another (poor farce!) and before
they were five PAGES asunder both
fred at the same instant"
The Code OF Justinian says chat if
man betrothed woman by q kiss
and either party died before mar
riage the heirs were entitled to half
the donations and the survivor to the
other half; but if the contract was
made without the solemn kiss, the
whole OF the espousal gifts must be re.
stored to the donors and their heirs
at-law.
The Mohammedans, on their pious
pilgrimage to Mecca, kiss the sacred
black stone and four corners OF the
kaaba. The Romish priest kisses the
aspergllum, and Palm Sunday the
palm. Kissing the popes toe was
fashion introduced by one OF the Leos.
who, it is said, had mutilated his right
hand and was too vain to expose the
stump.
In Iceland kissing had deferred pen
alties OF great severity. For kissing
another mans wife. with or without
her consent, the punishment OF exciu
sion, or it's pecuniary equivalent, was
awarded. A man rendered himself II
able for kissing an unmarried woman
under legal guardianship without her
consent, and if the lady consented,
the law required that every kiss
should be wiped out by fine OF three
marks-eqaivalent to 40 ellis OF wnd-
mal-a quantity sufficient to furnish
a whole ships crew with pilot Jackets
In Russia the Eastern salutation
is kiss. Each member of the
family salutes the other, chance ac-
quaintances on meeting kiss; princi-
pals kiss their employees; the General
kisses his officers; the officers kiss
their soldiers; Car kisses his family,
retinue, court and attendants, and
even mis- officers on parade, the SEN
Jinels at the palace gates and select
party OF private soldiers-probably
deliberately prepared Tor this "roya'
salute" In other parts the poorest
serf, meeting high.born dame on tho
street, has but to say, "Christ is
Rlsen," and he will receive "A kiss and
the reply, "He has risen, truly"
Home, in his quaint old liable
book" gives an account OF curious
old kissing festival held in Ireland:
easter Monday several hundred
young persons OF the town and neigh
dorhood OF Potsierry, County Down,
resort, dressed in their best, to n
pleasant walk near the town called
THE Waller The avowed object OF
each person is to see the fun, which
consists in the men kissing the females
without reserve, whether married or
single. This mode OF salutation is
quite matter OF course; it is never
taken aniss, nor with much show OF
coyness. The female must be or
binary indeed who returns home with.
out having received at least a dozen